Colorado Rare Bird Alert for June 9, 2015

[Ira Sanders]

-- Compiler:  Ira Sanders

Date:         June 9, 2015 @ 12:00 am

E-mail:      rba AT cobirds.org

This is the Rare Bird Alert, Tuesday, June 9 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species).
 

LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Montrose)

Black Swift (Pueblo)

Lewis's Woodpecker (Chaffee, Lincoln)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Boulder)

Acorn Woodpecker (La Plata, Pueblo)

American Three-toed Woodpecker (Park)

Least Flycatcher (Mesa)

Gray Flycatcher ( Ouray)

Eastern Phoebe (*Chaffee)

Vermilion Flycatcher (Mesa)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Kiowa)

Bell's Vireo (Pueblo)

Blue-winged Warbler (Jefferson)

Grace's Warbler (*Chaffee)

Canyon Towhee (Larimer)

Hepatic Tanager (Rio Grande)

Painted Bunting (Pueblo)

 
BOULDER COUNTY:

--A Red-headed Woodpecker was reported by Christian Nunes at Eldorado Mountain Open Space on June 3.

CHAFFEE COUNTY:

--A Lewis's Woodpecker was reported by Jennifer Hyypio on CR 162 (Nathrope) towards Mt Princeton Hot Springs approximately 20 yards from the intersection with US 285 on top of two dead trees on June 4.

--An Eastern Phoebe was reported by Bruce Webb and Micahel Kiesig at Sands Lake SWA on June 4.  On June 5, Bruce Webb reported 2 Eastern Phoebes at Sands Lake SWA.  The birds were still present on June 7.

-- On June 8, Nunes reports a singing Grace's Warbler at the Mt. Shavano trailhead.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:

--  On June 3, David Chartier reported Blue-winged Warbler at Welchester Tree Grant Park.  On June 4, Frank Farrell reported Blue-winged Warbler at Welchester Tree Grant Park.

KIOWA COUNTY:

--A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was reported by Chuck Hundertmark at Neenoshe Reservoir on June 1.

LA PLATA COUNTY:

--4 - 6 Acorn Woodpeckers were reported by Gwen Moore and Sue Riffe on Meadow Road in Rafter J subdivision of Durango on May 31.  On June 3, James Turner reported Acorn Woodpecker on Meadow Road in Rafter J subdivision.

LARIMER COUNTY:

--A Canyon Towhee was reported by Greg Luger across CR 38E from Horsetooth Mt Park on June 3.

LINCOLN COUNTY:

--A  Lewis's Woodpecker was reported by Glenn Walbek in Arriba on CR 40 on June 2.

MESA COUNTY:

--A Least Flycatcher was reported by Nic Korte in Collbran east on Peninsula Road on June 1.

--A Vermilion Flycatcher was reported by Sean Cozart at CR 22 and CR M on June 2.

MONTROSE COUNTY:

--A f LESSER NIGHTHAWK was reported by Coen Dexter by two farm ponds just east of Nucla Sewer Ponds on June 1.

OURAY COUNTY:

--A Gray Flycatcher was reported by Norm Erthal at 101-149 CR 2 on June 4.

PARK COUNTY:

--An American Three-toed Woodpecker was reported by David Suddjian on CR 8 out of Alma on June 3.

PUEBLO COUNTY:

--On May 24, at Valco Ponds SWA, Brandon Percival reported Bell's Vireo and Painted Bunting.  On May 25, David Chartier reported that the Bell's Vireo was still singing at Valco Ponds SWA.  On May 27, Percival reported that the singing Bell's Vireo continues at the 3rd Valco Pond.  On May 31, Percival reported that the Bell's Vireo continues at the 3rd Valco Pond. 

--2 Acorn Woodpeckers were reported by Brandon Percival at Pueblo Mountain Park on June 2.

--Black Swifts were reported by Brandon Percival flying over Pueblo Reservoir on June 5.

RIO GRANDE:

--A male Hepatic Tanager is reported by Virginia Simmons  feeding for a few minutes at a nectar feeder on her deck on June 4 in Del Norte.

UPCOMING DFO FIELD TRIPS:

Reynolds Park and Pine Valley Ranch (Jefferson County) Saturday, June 13 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Mark Amershek (Email: mame...@msn.com Phone: 303-329-8646) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 10 Directions: From Hwy 73 in Conifer, CO, travel south on US-285 S for 0.3 miles, slightly right onto Kennedy Gulch Rd for 0.1 mi. Take the first left toward S Foxton Rd. Turn left onto S Foxton Rd (Hwy 97) for 5.6 mi to Reynolds Park at 14070 S Foxton Rd, Conifer, CO 80433. Meet at Reynolds Park parking lot. The morning will be spent at Reynolds Open Space and then we will drive to Pine Valley Ranch for lunch and more birding in the afternoon. Certain parts of the trails are narrow and steep and can be difficult walking, especially at Reynolds. Total walking is about 5 miles for both locations. Mark Amershek and Bruce Neuman will be co-leaders. Register online or contact leader to register. 

Meyer Ranch Park Sunday, June 14 6:30 AM - 11:30 AM Karen Drozda (Email: droz...@AOL.com Phone: 303-388-0891) Trail Difficulty: Moderate Maximum Participants: 18 Directions: Meet at the Park-n-Ride behind the Clock Tower on the NW corner of Morrison Road and C-470. We will carpool from this spot to the Meyer Ranch Park near Connifer. Explore this historic ranch and its moist meadow and woodland habitats. Expected birds: Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Warbling Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, and Evening Grosbeak. Bring hat, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, camera, snacks, water, and clothes for possible inclement weather. Register online or contact leader to register. 

Keith Owens's Native Prairie Restoration Site and Dodd Reservoir Sunday, June 14 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mary Geder (Email: mfg...@live.com Phone: 303-986-6127) Trail Difficulty: Easy Maximum Participants: 6 Directions: Meet in Boulder at the Tom Watson parking lot across from Coot Lake on 63rd Street just north of the Diagonal Highway #119. Leaders: Steve Jones and Petrea Mah. This is a joint field trip organized by the Boulder County Audubon Society (BCAS). Hike through 70 acres of a former tree farm that is being restored to a native shortgrass prairie. We will do a breeding bird survey to document changes in avifauna. In hedge rows between the plots are many native and exotic trees. This trip should be fascinating to both botanists and birders. Afterward we will stop at BCAS’s Dodd Reservoir prairie to see how our restoration efforts are progressing. Funds for this revegetation were provided by a DFO Grant. Bring a snack, water, and sunscreen. Only online registrations will be accepted for this trip. 

 Cherry Creek SP Wetlands Loop (Arapahoe County) Sunday, June 14 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Karen von Saltza (Email: kvons...@yahoo.com Phone: 303-941-4881) Trail Difficulty: Easy Directions: Meet at the Prairie Loop lot in Cherry Creek SP. From either park entrance, follow Lake View Rd to the Prairie Loop that is located at the south rim of the reservoir. State Parks pass or day pass required. This is a half-day trip passing through many diverse, important habitats in three miles. Trails could be slippery, so dress accordingly. Bring water and snacks; lunch optional. Beginning birders welcome. Register online or contact leader to register. 

Good Birding,

Ira Sanders

Golden, CO